Separable packaging and display system with easy release tab

ABSTRACT

A separable packaging and display system includes: a display card having a substantially flat display surface, and a flexible, semi-rigid, transparent closure member having a continuous extending wall defining an interior surface and at least a continuous proximal edge and extending in a direction away from and substantially perpendicular to the display surface. A lip extends from the proximal edge and includes an easy release tab. The lip is releasably attached to the display surface, except at the tab, which is displaceable from the display surface and is able to be pulled by a consumer, thereby separating the closure member from the display card and providing access to the products. A transparent closure is continuous with the wall and forms a transparent display window. The transparent closure, the display surface and the interior surface define a display chamber for displaying the products.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a separable packaging and display system, and more particularly to a separable packaging and display system for jewelry accessories that includes an easy release tab for quick access to the packaged or displayed items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Display packaging is commonly used in merchandising goods, including small articles of merchandise. Display packaging allows potential customers to see and evaluate the items prior to purchase. Especially for small items, the selling price typically is too low to justify sales by a salesperson assisting the purchaser in the purchasing decision. Additionally, small, inexpensive items frequently are impulse purchases, displayed and marketed at or near a checkout stand. Absent an ability to display such goods in a manner that provides visibility to the potential purchaser and includes pertinent information, such as price and utility, without the intercession of a salesperson, the ability of a merchandiser to realize sufficient sales of such goods is severely diminished.

[0003] The use of so-called bubble packs for packaging and displaying small articles of merchandise is widespread in the packaging industry. Such packaging typically employs a transparent sheet vacuum-formed on a cardboard backing with an article of merchandise, such as a pharmaceutical dosage form, encased therebetween. Bubble packs provide the advantage of convenient display of the packaged article with reduced opportunity for theft. Bubble packs, however, require expensive and complicated machinery likely beyond the financial reach of a small manufacturer or merchandiser. Additionally, bubble packs are frequently difficult to open, requiring the use of scissors or the application of considerable physical force by the consumer to gain access to the product.

[0004] Separable display packaging systems for the packaging and display of small articles of merchandise also are known. Such packaging systems usually involve a display sheet or card and a protective cover, with the cover forming, inter alia, a display window for displaying the article of merchandise. An instruction card may be included, located between the display sheet/card and the protective cover. Such separable packaging systems do not require expensive or complicated machinery. However, such packaging and display systems typically require substantial physical effort on the part of the consumer to separate the components and gain access to the article of merchandise. Even where such systems possess “easy opening strip(s),” a consumer must rupture a weakened region of the packaging, and tear the “easy opening strip” away therefrom, in order to separate the opposing walls of the packaging and gain access to the product. Particularly with small, inexpensive items such as jewelry accessories, i.e., backings for pierced earrings, consumers are disinclined to expend the effort required to open a typical separable packaging system merely to retrieve such items which may be readily available elsewhere.

[0005] What is needed is a separable packaging and display system which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and provides easy access to small, inexpensive items packaged and displayed thereby.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a separable packaging and display system which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and provides easy access to small, inexpensive items packaged and displayed thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The separable packaging and display system of the present invention includes: a display card with a substantially flat display surface, and a flexible, semi-rigid, transparent closure member having a continuous extending wall extending away from and substantially perpendicular to the display surface. The wall includes at least a continuous proximal edge.

[0008] A lip extends from the proximal edge in a direction away from the closure member and in a plane substantially parallel to the display surface. The lip includes an easy release tab extending from one portion thereof. The lip is releasably attached to the display surface, except at the tab, which is displaceable from the display surface and is able to be pulled by a consumer, thereby separating the closure member from the display card and providing access to the products.

[0009] A transparent closure is continuous with the wall and forms a transparent display window. Alternatively, the transparent closure may extend about the entire periphery of a continuous distal edge of the wall, thus forming the transparent display window.

[0010] The transparent closure, the display surface and the interior surface define a display chamber for displaying the products.

[0011] The closure member can be fashioned from any transparent, semi-rigid, flexible material, and preferably is made from semi-rigid clear plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the separable packaging and display system of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a bottom side view of the same embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Turning to the drawings, the separable packaging and display system 10 of the present invention includes: a display card 12 having a substantially flat display surface 14, and a flexible, semi-rigid, transparent closure member 16 comprising a continuous extending wall 18 defining an interior surface and having at least a continuous proximal edge 20. The wall 18 extends away from and substantially perpendicular to the display surface 14.

[0015] The proximal edge 20 includes a lip 24 extending therefrom in a direction away from the closure member 16 and in a plane substantially parallel to the display surface 14. The lip 24 includes an easy release tab 26 that extends from one portion of the lip 24 also in a direction away from the closure member 16 and in a plane substantially parallel to the display surface 14. The lip 24 is releasably attached to the display surface 14, except at the tab 26, which is detachable from the display surface 14 and is able to be pulled by a consumer. The closure member 16 is thus separated from the display card 12, and the displayed/packaged products are made accessible to a consumer. In a preferred embodiment, the products displayed and packaged are jewelry and/or jewelry accessory products.

[0016] A transparent closure 28 is continuous with the wall 18 and forms a transparent display window. In one embodiment, the transparent closure 28 extends an entire periphery of a continuous distal edge 22 of the wall 18, thereby and forming the transparent display window.

[0017] The transparent closure 28, the display surface 14 and the interior surface of the wall 18 define a display chamber for displaying the products.

[0018] The proximal and distal edges 20, 22, can be any regular or irregular shape, including without exception circular, rectangular, elliptical, and triangular. Preferably, the proximal and distal edges 20, 22 are circular in shape. The proximal and distal edges 20, 22 preferably are sized to surround the article of merchandise to be displayed and packaged, with the circumference of the proximal and distal edges 20, 22 providing sufficient additional lateral space for the article of merchandise to move slightly within the closure member 16, but not to provide so much additional lateral space that movement of the article of merchandise within the closure member 16 could result in dislodging and damage to the article. The periphery of the proximal edge 20 need not be identical to that of the distal edge 22.

[0019] The lip 24 preferably extends laterally from the proximal edge 20, away from the wall 18 and substantially parallel to the display surface 14. It may have the same shape as the proximal edge 20, i.e., circular, elliptical, rectangular. The width of the lip 24 is sufficient so that, when the lip 24 is releasably attached to the display surface 12, the closure member 16 cannot easily be pulled from the display card 12 other than by the tab 26. The lip 24 may be releasably attached to the display surface 14 of the display card 12 by conventional means, including without exception conventional mucilages and adhesives.

[0020] The height of the wall 18 also is sufficient to provide the article of merchandise with space to move slightly within the closure member 16, but not so much space that movement of the article within the closure member 16 could result in damage to the article.

[0021] The closure member 16 may take any conventional form, such as a cup or closed cylinder, a hemisphere, or a hollow rectangular solid open on one face.

[0022] The tab 26 may take any conventional form, including without exception semi-circle, rectangle, extended semi-circle, and triangle. Preferably, the shape of the tab 26 is an extended semi-circle.

[0023] The semi-rigid closure member 16 can be formed from plastic materials, preferably polyester materials. Suitable materials also include, without limitation, PVC and PET G (extra glycol polyester). In addition, rather than a discrete distal edge 22 and closure 28, a hemispheric or cup-like closure member 16 may be employed.

[0024] The display card 12 can be manufactured by any conventional method. One skilled in packaging and product display would be familiar with and understand such methods and their application to the present invention.

[0025] The closure member 16 also can be manufactured by any conventional method, including, without limitation, extrusion and molding. One skilled in packaging and product display would be familiar with and understand such methods and their application to the present invention.

[0026] While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as may all within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A separable packaging and display system for products comprising: a display card having a substantially flat display surface, a flexible, semi-rigid, transparent closure member having a continuous extending wall defining an interior surface and at least a continuous proximal edge extending in a direction away from the display surface, a lip extending from the proximal edge in a direction away from the closure member and in a plane substantially parallel to the display surface, the lip further including an easy release tab extending from one portion thereof in a direction away from the closure member and in a plane substantially parallel to the display surface, the lip being releasably attached to the display surface, except at the tab, which is displaceable from the display surface and is able to be pulled by a user, thereby separating the closure member from the display card and providing access to the products, and the transparent closure member having a portion forming a transparent display window that is continuous with the wall, the transparent closure member, the display surface and the interior surface defining a display chamber for displaying the products.
 2. The packaging and display system of claim 1, wherein the wall further includes a continuous distal edge, and a transparent closure extending to the periphery of the distal edge and forming the transparent display window.
 3. The packaging and display system of claim 1, wherein the products are one of jewelry and/or jewelry accessory products.
 4. The packaging and display system of claim 1, wherein the closure member is made of semi-rigid clear plastic.
 5. The packaging and display system of claim 1, wherein the continuous proximal edge is configured in a shape selected from one of a circle, ellipse, triangle and rectangle.
 6. The packaging and display system of claim 1, wherein the closure member is configured in a shape selected from one of a cylinder closed at one end, a hemisphere, and a hollow rectangular solid open on one face. 